February 21, 2012

I love coleslaw. My favorite being the one they serve at Gladstones in the Pacific Palisades on the ocean.In the middle of winter here in the cold midwest I’ve come up with a slaw that is not confused with a summer picnic cabbage based coleslaw yet still satisfies my coleslaw cravings. And, it’s simple, simple , simple…not even a recipe really…just a guideline. Take a bag of Brocco Slaw ( or rainbow/confetti slaw mix) that’s a blend of shredded broccoli stems, cauliflower hearts,red cabbage and/or carrots and add about 1/4 cup of chopped red onion. Mix up a quick slaw dressing of 1/2 cup of Hellmans, a good splash of cider vinegar, a teaspoon of Sugar in the Raw , a pinch of kosher salt and a grind or two of pepper. Pour over the vegetable mixture to lightly coat. Top with 1/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola. That’s it. An easy winter slaw with a surprise ingredient that won’t loose it’s crunch.

February 20, 2012

Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year…Tangerine Tango. If a dose of this injected into your neutral interior doesn’t shake things up, well…it’s time to start checking pulses. Don’t know where to start? Should the tangy Womb chair and ottoman ( Eero Saarinen 1948)at http://hivemodern.com/ make too much of a statement then maybe a Tangerine Tango Journal http://www.pantone.com/pages/products/product.aspx?pid=1270&ca=33 is just the ticket. Me, I’ll take one of each please.

February 19, 2012

tulips have got to be my hands down favorite. Parrots, fringed, Dutch or French…there is nothing that compares in the floral world. The range of colors is unbelieveable, white being my absolute first choice if given one. The blast of the coming season they provide is always welcome ( readily available and easily affordable). It is no wonder they were more valuable than property or gold and prized by earlier Asian and European nobility.

Pull out your glass cylinder,add water, a quick fresh cut and literally drop in a bunch or two. Simple.

February 9, 2012

…as easy as 1 2 3. Never again will you be able to pull off with such little effort such an impressive result. For starts, something Brut and sparkling…everyone has their favorite and it’s probably already chilled. Next, a simple appetizer: assorted olives marinated with herbs, garlic and lemon peel. Now dinner. Who doesn’t L O V E a bowl of pasta? So simple and you probably have all of these ingredients in the pantry as well. This classic dish ( I always use Perciatelli) with butter, pepper and cheese is my new go-to ,http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/05/cacio-e-pepe. I top this with a palmfull of dry toasted breadcrumbs … an amazing textural contrast… really,don’t skip this addition. Finish things off with more sparkling wine, a little lemon sorbet splashed with Limoncello and candied lemon peel with dark chocolate. What else is there to say? Done and done. Happy Valentines Day.

February 3, 2012

will surely be the reaction upon opening this amazing Valentine gift. An air plant, almost no maintenance is required…a mist of water every now and again will keep it’s sculptural beauty thriving. Beautifully presented in it’s white box this specimen Tillandsia from Flora Grubb Garden makes quite the modern statement. Me?…I’d love to recieve this. Wall mounted and multiples? I’d love it even more. http://shop.floragrubb.com/spectacular-xerographica-gift-box/